Publications

Scholarly Journals--Accepted

  • Spencer-Hwang R, Alramadahan F, Alabadi A, and Seaton-Ribadu N. The Call for Lifestyle Medicine Interventions Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Dec 2021.  (10/2021)

Scholarly Journals--Published

  • Morton L, Lee J, Spencer-Hwang. Plant-Based Dietary Intake Moderates Adverse Childhood Experiences Effects on Early Mortality in an Older Adventist Cohort. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Oct 2021. (10/2021)
  • Spencer-Hwang R, Soret S, Rizzo N and Montgomery S.  Gender Differences in Respiratory Health of School Children Exposed to Railyard-Generated Air Pollution: The ENRRICH Study.  Journal of Environmental Healthk.  2016 Jan; 78 (6): 8-16.   (01/2016)
  • Spencer-Hwang Rhonda, Montgomery Susanne, Dougherty Molly, Valladares Johanny, Rangel Sany, Gleason Peter, & Soret Sam. (2014). Experiences of a Rail Yard Community: Life Is Hard. J Environ Health, 77(2), 8-17. Community groups and local air pollution control agencies have identified the San Bernardino Railyard (SBR) as a significant public health and environmental justice issue. In response, the authors conducted a comprehensive study with community members living in close proximity to the rail yard. The purpose of this article is to share the community's perceptions about the rail yard and ideas on sustainable change. A qualitative study using key informant interviews and focus group discussions was conducted and resulted in four emerging themes. Themes emerged as follows: "health as an unattainable value," "air quality challenges," "rail yard pros and cons," and "violence and unemployment ripple effect." Community participants expressed concern for poor air quality, but other challenges took priority. The authors' findings suggest that future mitigation work to reduce air pollution exposure should not only focus on reducing risk from air pollution but address significant co-occurring community challenges. A "Health in All Policies" approach is warranted in addressing impacted communities in close proximity to the goods movement industry. (09/2014)
  • Spencer-Hwang Rhonda, Soret Sam, Halstead Linda, Dougherty Molly, Valladares Johanny, and Montgomery Susanne. (2014). Making Human Subject Protection Training Community Responsive: Experiences Delivering on the Community-Based Participatory Research Promise. Progress in Community Health Partnerships-Research Education and Action, 8(2), 215-224. Background: A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used by the California-based Environmental Railyard Research (ENRRICH) Study, a partnership between scientists from Loma Linda University (LLU) and a local community organization, with the aim of assessing the health effects of exposure to emissions from a rail yard on a community. Methods/Results: To allow meaningful community participation in all study activities and comply with institutional review board (IRB) requirements, all participants involved needed to be properly trained and certified in the ethical conduct of human subjects (HS) research. Existing IRB training materials and the conventional certification methods designed for university scientists are not well-suited for community members who often face educational as well as language barriers. Conclusion: The purpose of this article is to share experiences in developing and implementing a customized human subject research curriculum, which was community responsive and addressed IRB requirements. (2014)
  • Spencer-Hwang Rhonda, Montgomery Susanne, Dougherty Molly, Valladares Johanny, Rangel Sany, Gleason Peter, & Soret Sam. (2014). Experiences of a Rail Yard Community: Life Is Hard (Cover story). J Environ Health, 77(2), 8-17. Community groups and local air pollution control agencies have identified the San Bernardino Railyard (SBR) as a significant public health and environmental justice issue. In response, the authors conducted a comprehensive study with community members living in close proximity to the rail yard. The purpose of this article is to share the communityâ??s perceptions about the rail yard and ideas on sustainable change. A qualitative study using key informant interviews and focus group discussions was conducted and resulted in four emerging themes. Themes emerged as follows: â??health as an unattainable value,â?? â??air quality challenges,â?? â??rail yard pros and cons,â?? and â??violence and unemployment ripple effect.â?? Community participants expressed concern for poor air quality, but other challenges took priority. The authorsâ?? findings suggest that future mitigation work to reduce air pollution exposure should not only focus on reducing risk from air pollution but address significant co-occurring community challenges. A â??Health in All Policiesâ?? approach is warranted in addressing impacted communities in close proximity to the goods movement industry. INSETS: Air Quality Challenges;Health Care Challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Environmental Health is the property of National Environmental Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) (2014) (link)
  • Spencer-Hwang R, Knutsen S, Soret S, Ghamsary M, Beeson WL, Oda K, Shavlik D, and Jaipaul N.  Ambient Air Pollutants and Fatal Coronary Heart Disease Among Kidney Transplant Recipients.  American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2011; July 19. (08/2011)
  • Spencer-Hwang R, Knutsen S, Soret S, Ghamsary M, Beeson WL, Oda K, Shavlik D, and Jaipaul N.  Female Transplant Recipients At Increased Risk of Fatal Coronary Heart Disease Associated With Ambient Air Pollutants.  Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, 2011.   (04/2011)

Books and Chapters

  • Spencer-Hwang, Rhonda. Raising Resilient Kids. Tyndale Publishing House, August 2021. (08/2021)

Abstract

  • (NON-PEER REVIEWED) Ardmore Foundation Research grant for studying childhood experiences (positive and negative) and protective factors among Adventist community members who have lived 80+ years (09/2019 - 09/2020)
  • (NON-PEER REVIEWED) Principal Investigator and Program DirectorLoma Linda University Asthma ProgramProviding extensive asthma services across Riverside CountyConducting community based participatory research (CBPR)Award - $2.1 million contract for five years First 5 Riverside (2012-2017) (07/2012 - 06/2017)